Victor Osimhen scored a rare Africa Cup of Nations goal as Nigeria booked their place in the knockout stages with an ultimately nail-biting 3-2 win over Tunisia.
The Super Eagles almost squandered a three-goal lead when Montassar Talbi pulled a goal back in the 74th minute and Ali Abdi converted a penalty in the 87th.
Osimhen missed two good chances with headers early on as Nigeria made a good start, but he eventually scored once before half-time with a header from Ademola Lookman’s cross.
It was only Osimhen’s second Africa Cup goal in his career.
Nigeria were cruising after the break when Lookman set up Wilfred Ndidi for the second goal and then converted Osimhen’s assist in the 67th minute.
The Carthage Eagles somehow found a way back and threatened an unlikely comeback after Bright Osayi-Samuel was penalized for handball following a VAR check. Talbi scored the penalty, and fans in the Complexe Sportif de Fès lit up flares in delight.
Tunisian captain Ferjani Sassi headed just wide in stoppage time, and the Nigerian players eventually showed enough experience to take the win.
Nigeria are assured of a place in the last 16 with a maximum of six points in Group C, three ahead of Tunisia, while Tanzania and Uganda have one point each.
The top two automatically advance to the last 16, along with the best third places.
East African rivals Uganda and Tanzania – two of the three co-hosts of the next tournament with Kenya – drew 1-1 in a frantic early match in Group C, a result that yielded little for both after opening defeats.
Uganda’s Allan Okello missed the chance to win the match when he struck a penalty well into stoppage time after a rain shower drenched the players and sent fans scrambling for cover.
Tanzania’s Simon Msuva put Taifa Stars ahead early in the second half with a penalty, before Uche Ikpeazu equalized late on with a diving header just three minutes after coming on as a substitute.
That goal opened the heavens, adding to the chaos of the final minutes as both sides pushed for a win to boost their hopes of progressing.
Published on December 28, 2025
